Elder Chief Lawrence Mgbeonyerem Onuigbo-Oriaku, the elder and only brother of the former House of Representatives member and South East representative in the Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC) Hon. Sam Onuigbo is set for final burial.
He will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 6 at his country home, Obi-Ibere Community in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.
Onuigbo-Oriaku who died at 73 was a judge/member 2 Customary Court Ariam, Abia State Judicial Service Commission.
A burial arrangement released on behalf of the family by Oriaku Chukwuemeka Promise says on Friday, April 5th, the Service of Songs/Christain Wake will hold at New Gospel Mission Church premises, Obuohia Obi-Ibere, Umuahia, Abia State.
On Saturday 6th April, 2024 his body will lie in State at his residence in Obuohia, Obi-lbere Community.
A funeral Service will be held in his honour at the Community Primary School Field Obohia after which he will be committed to the mother earth.
A reception will also be held at the same venue immediately after burial.
The family Prays for the peaceful repose of their dearly beloved father.
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THE BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HONOUR, CHIEF ELDER LAWRENCE MGBEONYEREM ONUIGBO ORIAKU, JP FISPN. (AKA DE’ LAW).
It is an indisputable fact that Death is inevitable for the living mortals.
In the words of a renowned author, Ernest Hemingway, “every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how one lived and how he died that distinguish one from another”.
Indeed like an American author, Madeleine L’Engle observed, “Death is contagious; it is contracted the moment we are conceived”.
However, what counts and matters is what one shall be remembered for after passing on.
His Honour, Chief Elder Lawrence Onuigbo Oriaku, was born on 24th December, 1950, born into the family of Chief Abel & Mrs. Mary Onuigbo Oriaku in Eziako, Obuohia, Obi-Ibere, Ikwuano, Abia State. He was the third child and first son out of six siblings.
Chief Elder Lawrence Mgbeonyerem Onuigbo Oriaku popularly known as De’Law, got his First School Leaving Certificate at Ndoro Methodist Central School under the Eastern Group of Provinces of Nigeria Ministry of Education in 1965. Although the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War disrupted his secondary education, as an intelligent, hardworking and resourceful person, he studied privately and passed his General Certificate of Education Examinations.
He proceeded to Police College, Ikeja, Lagos State, where he trained as a Police Officer. He later obtained B.Sc. in Political Science and Public Administration at the prestigious State University of New York, Albany, New York, U.S.A.
This fair complexion and handsome man, got married to Mrs. Stella C. Gloria Onuigbo Oriaku (nee Awom) from the family of Late Inspector Ogbonnaya Silas Awom in Inyila village, Ikwuano L.G.A., Umuahia, Abia State in 1990 and the marriage is blessed with five (5) smart and intelligent children. He sacrificed and loved his family unconditionally until death took him away suddenly on 8th of November, 2023.
De’ Law worked with a number of establishments from 1998 to 2019, which included Servtrust Security, Addax Petroleum Development PLC, and Esso/ExxonMobil PLC in Lagos State.
On successfully passing his Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) competence training, he was certified as a safety professional, becoming a member of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) in 2011, and later on, a Fellow of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (FISPN).
De Law again returned to Police College, Ikeja in 2014 for an upgraded Police Training and Study which earned him the very sensitive class of Police Intelligence Officer. He was accordingly certified a Mobile Policeman and Guard Force Officer with Exxon/Mobil Security until his retirement in 2019.
Afterwards, he served with Abia State Judicial Service Commission as a Judge of the Customary Court, Ariam, Ikwuano LGA, Abia State.
A devout Christian, Chief Lawrence Mgbeonyerem Onuigbo Oriaku was ordained an Elder on the 19th of October, 2013, in New Gospel Mission Incorporated (NGM), Lagos State, by the General Overseer, His Grace, Arch-Bishop Prof. Paul Ebubemmadu Oriaku.
He was a dedicated member of New Gospel Mission (NGM) in Lagos State before relocating to Umuahia where he joined the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM), Umuahia, Abia State where he continued to propagate the gospel until the Lord called him home.
Dee Mgbonye as he was also fondly called by his people was a peacemaker, and an epitome of wisdom that neither defended evil, nor supported misdeeds.
He was a charismatic man who was highly skilled in communication and developing interpersonal relationships with people he came across, which endeared him to many.
In community development, Chief Lawrence Mgbeonyerem Onuigbo Oriaku the highly intelligent and socially aware personality offered high quality advice on the right things to do in order to avert damages and unforeseen dangers. It was in recognition of these his outstanding qualities and commitment to community development that he was in 2006, bestowed with the chieftaincy title of Nwachinemere I of Obi-Ibere Autonomous Community.
A believer in peaceful co-existence, consultation and discipline, Chief Lawrence Onuigbo Oriaku was indeed an earthly representation of “GOD THE FATHER.”
Like The bible book of Ecclesiastes 3:1&2, teaches us there is “…a time to be born and a time to die…”
Chief Lawrence Mgbeonyerem Onuigbo Oriaku is survived by his wife , Stella, five children, grandchildren, and host of relatives including, the former member that represented Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency and a current member North East Development Commission, Chief Sam Iheanyichukwu Onuigbo.
Dee Mgbonye has run the race that the Almighty set for him and has also fulfilled so much purpose during his lifetime.
So, we today celebrate the life that you so well spent here on earth and we are convinced that you are now seated with Christ in heaven where sin, sickness and sadness are no more.
Adieu Dee Mgbonye
Adieu De’Law
Adieu Monsieur Laurent
Adieu Nwachinemere
Adieu Dadaa Law
Adieu Chimamgbeonyerem
See you Father at the resurrection morning.
Signed:
CHUKWUEMEKA PROMISE ONUIGBO ORIAKU
First Son
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